2011 Style Guide by Francesco: Getting to the Bottom of Things—Shoes

One major mistake that the more conservative male dresser commits against his suit is the color of the shoes—black only.

Don’t get me wrong, though. The black dress shoe should be an integral part of every man’s wardrobe; but this season it is all about breaking it up a bit—boldly mixing and matching.

Traditionally, shoes matched your belt. So instead of black, why not try brown; then, match the shade of brown to your belt and accessories, such as your briefcase or shoulder bag.

Now if you are really confident with your eye for color, seek out a shoe with a splash of color and—then—match that color with your tie, sweater, vest, or belt.

(Bear in mind, however, belts are not imperative this season. A beltless suit look can add an air of casual confidence and a little more length to the slim silhouette that you are trying to achieve.)

As for the type of shoe, the ankle-high dress boot is a nice variation. If you live in an area where the winter or rainy season is messy, lace up a more rugged-looking boot.

Finally for the young at heart, a stylish yet unpretentious sneaker can spice up a casual but “cooler” look.

(P.S. Retire the square-toe shoes!)

Check out more great looks for shoes here.

Category › Giovane Gentile , trends colors , trends styles , Turkish designers

2011 Style Guide by Francesco: Panting over Pants & Below

Two weeks ago, I delved into a series of articles called “2011 Style Guide by Francesco,” pointing out how the main staple of this fashion season is none other than the suit—but with a twist.

The pendulum is swinging more formal, but with a modern, urban flair; so if we truly want to achieve this twist, we have to take an in-depth look at pants.

Now, you could take the easy road by purchasing a suit that comes with a jacket and matching pants, but you probably will not master the compete look of the season.
Currently, the right slacks for your suit attire will probably not be identical to the jacket but rather different in shade, color, hue, texture, material and/or pattern.

If you are ever unsure, don’t be embarrassed to ask for experienced help: matching colors and coordinating patterns require a good level of fashion sense.

If you are mixing up your look with a pair of jeans, for example, a darker color pair will normally go better with a suit jacket of a different color, texture, and/or pattern.

Whatever color or pattern you do choose, make sure the pants are without pleats, low waist, and slim leg. The young at heart may even throw on a blazer over some very snug-legged pants.

How Tight is Tight?
For the past few seasons, leggings have been appearing on the runways around the world, however, since most men would not wear them, they translate into in everyday life as snug-fitting pants—in some cases, almost as if they have been painted on!

Sock It to Me!
Thanks to designers like Thom Browne, some men are wearing their slimmer pants slightly above the ankle, showing some “skin” in the summer and some lively color-coordinated socks in the winter.

Again, if you do not have much experience, ask for help with this look; otherwise you may walk out of the store looking like you just put on some hand-me-downs!

Nevertheless, a little color showing at the ankle and coordinated with another item like the tie can really set you apart from the crowd!

Have a look at more examples here.

Photo Copyright Giovane Gentile.

Category › editorial , Giovane Gentile , trends colors , trends fabrics , trends styles , Turkish designers

2011 Style Guide by Francesco

What’s Hot, What’s Not & How to Own It for Yourself

For many men, fashion is fickle—the pendulum can swing from one extreme to another in relatively no time at all!

This situation can present multiple problems because, with all the radical changes, it is difficult to know what’s in style, what is not, what’s mere trend, and how to adopt a new look.

Back in the 1970s, for example, it was fashionable to wear suits with wide ties, huge lapels, and bell-bottom pants—the kind that widened from the knee to the ankle.

Afterwards, however there occurred a gradual “casualization” of trends whereby suits, ties, slacks, and jackets became more and more unpopular—even in the office!

Well, this season the pendulum is swinging back to the opposite end of the spectrum, wherein the main ingredients of a man’s wardrobe are none other than the suit and tie—but only with a millennium twist.

While the tie, jacket, and pants may constitute the milk, flour, and sugar of the cake, it is entirely up to you this season how you want to bake the cake—and believe me, there is a lot of mixing in the making.

At the same time, there are some guidelines, which I would like to spell out over the next few weeks. I will be using a photo gallery courtesy of Giovane Gentile.

First of all, contrary to the wideness of decades past, the current male silhouette is slim, sleek, and elongated.

Please note: this look has nothing to do with your height or weight. You can still pull it off if you are not so tall or thin, and I plan to show you how, even if you are a bit shorter and hefty.

In the meanwhile, let’s lay out some more staples that are gaining ground around the world in addition to the fitted suit.

Another trend that is catching on quickly is layering, often seen on the runways around the world as “draping.”

In everyday language and use, draping translates as “layers,” which can appear like a sweater worn under a suit jacket, a down vest over a suit jacket, bow ties, scarves, topcoats, bags, and more.

One extra “layer” that is gaining popularity is the trench coat—but reinterpreted.

During my recent visit home to Italy, I saw what I call the “sawed-off” trench; that is, a shortened version of the trench coat that extends just below the waist.

Finally, hats are returning to men’s wardrobes with unprecedented speed. I am not talking about baseball caps but rather various types of hats.

Well, we have a lot of ground to cover, so stay tuned this week for more menswear trends and how to make them yours! Guys, it’s time to own the trends!

Guys, it’s time to own the trends! See more examples here.

Photos Copyright Giovane Gentile.

Category › Giovane Gentile , trends colors , trends fabrics , trends styles